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Review
. 2023 Jun;48(3):226-228.
doi: 10.1007/s00059-023-05183-5. Epub 2023 Jun 9.

The COVID-19 pandemic in China: from dynamic zero-COVID to current policy

Junbo Ge  1
Affiliations
Review

The COVID-19 pandemic in China: from dynamic zero-COVID to current policy

Junbo Ge. Herz. 2023 Jun.

Abstract
in English, German

On 8 January 2023, after 3 years of pandemic control, China changed its management of COVID-19, applying measures against class B infectious diseases instead of Class A infectious diseases. This signaled the end of the dynamic zero-COVID policy and the reopening of the country. With a population of 1.41 billion, China's reopening policy during the COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized by a scientific, gradual, and cautious approach. Several factors contributed to the reopening policy, including an expansion of healthcare capacity, the widespread promotion and uptake of vaccination, and improved prevention and control mechanisms. According to the latest report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the country reached a peak of 1.625 million on January 5, 2023, and has since continued to decline. As of February 13, the number decreased to 26,000: a reduction of 98.4%. Thanks to the efforts of healthcare workers and society as a whole, the country managed to get through the peak of the epidemic in a stable manner.

Am 8. Januar 2023, nach 3 Jahren Pandemiebekämpfung, änderte China seinen Umgang mit COVID-19, indem es Maßnahmen gegen Infektionskrankheiten der Klasse B anstelle von Infektionskrankheiten der Klasse A ergriff. Dies bedeutete das Ende der dynamischen Null-COVID-Politik und die Wiederöffnung des Landes. Bei einer Bevölkerung von 1,41 Mrd. zeichnet sich Chinas Wiederöffnungspolitik während der COVID-19-Pandemie durch einen wissenschaftlichen, graduellen und vorsichtigen Ansatz aus. Verschiedene Faktoren trugen zur Politik der Wiederöffnung bei, dazu gehörten die Ausweitung der Kapazitäten des Gesundheitswesens, die umfassende Förderung und Inanspruchnahme von Impfungen sowie verbesserte Präventions- und Kontrollmechanismen. Dem neuesten Bericht des chinesischen Zentrums für Seuchenkontrolle und -prävention zufolge erreichte die Zahl der hospitalisierten COVID-19-Patienten im Land am 5. Januar 2023 einen Höchststand von 1,625 Mio. und ist seitdem kontinuierlich zurückgegangen. Am 13. Februar sank die Zahl auf 26.000. Das entspricht einer Abnahme von 98,4 %. Dank der Anstrengungen der Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter im Gesundheitswesen und der Gesellschaft als Ganzes gelang es dem Land, stabil durch diesen Höhepunkt der Epidemie zu kommen.

Keywords: Medical resources; Prevention; SARS-CoV‑2; Vaccination; Virulence.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

J. Ge declares that he has no competing interests.

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